Improving my Magnificent Rancilio

To say I love my Rancilio Silvia would be an understatement. It is a fantastic espresso machine. A true Italian beauty that is like a monument to brushed stainless hiding internal monuments to brass.

It’s Achilles heel for me has been a leaky and squeaky steam/water valve. Every time I tried to put water into a cup from the wand it would spit and squeak then blast a water with great velocity. This blast often meant a scalded finger but it was something one out up with. I looked enviously at the Version 3 Silvia with that cool commercial style wand. Then I discovered the upgrade kit. Hello there!

The upgrade kit came from Coffee Parts and was quite easy to fit. A Phillips screwdriver, 17, 18, 22 and 23 mm spanners are what was needed to fit this delightful steam wand with a ball joint to allow better movement. The wand has a slightly larger hole which facilitates better milk frothing and it is much quicker to heat the milk in the jug.

A great upgrade to my machine. Now it’s time for another Harrar flat white.